Cotton-picking machine.



J. F. APPLEB COTTON PIGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 19084 RBNEWED JULY 8, 1912.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. F. APPLEBY.

COTTON PIGKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1908. RENEWED JULY 8, 1912. LQQS@ atented Nov. 11i, 1913.

3 SHBETS-SHBET 2.

J'. F. APPLEBY.

COTTON PIGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. s, 1908. RENBWED JULY a, 1912.

L@ Patented Nov. H, 1913.

UNITED srATns PATENT onirica JOHN n. APPLEBY, or Banyan country, oknanomn, Assrcn'on To Dixit; corren" Henna COMPANY, or nsDrIELD, soU'rH DAKOTA, A conronn'rtpnbr sou-13H l y DAKOTA.

COTTON-PICKIN'G MACHNE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten Nov. 1 i, '191s'.

v Application led August 3, 190B., Serial No. 446,831. Renewed July 8, 1912. Serial No. lvil To all whom z't'may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. APPLEBY, citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Beaver and State of Oklahoma, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Picking Machines, of `which the following is a full, clear7 concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

iy invention relates to cotton picking machines and particularly to that class of cotton picking machines in which cotton picking fingers are employed that move in horizontal planes, though the invention is no-t to be restricted to the employment of picking fingers that move in horizontal planes.

The machine employing the preferred embodiment of my invention, includes duplicated picking mechanisms, each adapted to remove cotton trom the plants of a row, and although l prefer a machine that is adapted to pick cotton from two rows of plants at a time, l do not Wish to be limited to a machine that is capable of picking cotton from two rows of plants at a time.

It is Well known b y those skilled in the art that cotton picking machines have hitherto been devised employing two picking mechanisms including fingers adapted to move in horizontal planes, but the picking fingers of both picking mechanisms operated upon the cotton plants of a single roW. In the device of my invention, the picking fingers of a single picking mechanism pick the cotton from the plants of one row and the picking fingers of the come panion picking mechanism pick the cotton from the plants of an adjacent row, so that the machine of my invention containing no more mechanism than machines of the prior art, is adapted to perform twice the Work performed by machines of the prior art. A cotton picking machine constructed 1n accordance with my invention, having onehalf of the picking mechanism of machines of the prior art of the class specified, is capable of doing as much work as such cottrn picking machines of the prior art. I consider it to be broadly new with me, therefore, so to construct a machine having picking iingers moving in horizontal planes, that one picking mechanism may pick cotton from a row of plants Without the coil operation of another picking mechanism worklng upon the same rowo plants.

Broadly speaking,- therefore, my invention resides 1n retaining one of the picking mechanisms Working upon .the cotton plants in a single row and associating therewith mechanism that will cooperate with the single picking mechanism retained, to

enable said mechanism to removei cottony from. the plants of' a singleI roWl This mechanism associated with the retained picking mechanism constitutes, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, a swinging resisting element that serves to compress the cotton plants within a ,channel constituted of the swinging resisting element and a slotted Wall through which the cotton picking fingers project across said channel and into the bushes that are moving through said channel. -The swinging resisting element is desirably longitudinally slotted, the slots thereoil being coins cident with the horizontalplanes of'` move;`

ment of the picking iingers, which thus may project into the'slots of the resistinglele ment. The resisting element is desirahly spring-pressed, so as to suitably compress the cotton plants, to enable the picking`ngers to remove cot-ton therefrom, the spring mechanism that compresses the resisting element being suiiciently powerful to ae complish this result, the spring mechanism being so proportioned, however, that a bald ance is eiiected between the torce it exerts upon the cotton plants and the resistance offered by the cotton plants, so that the cotton plants are suitably compressed for the purpose stated. 5

The machine of the preferred embodi-4 ment of my invention, as has hitherto been suggested, comprises duplicated mechanisms,

each possessing a channel for receiving the plants of a cotton row, each possessing a group of picking iingers that move in hor'- izontal planes, and each possessing a re.- sisting element, preera ly swingingly mounted and spring-pressed, whereby ythe machine is adapted to pick cotton from two g rows of plants at the same time.

l will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred embodiment thereof, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan View of a part ofthe machine, portions being removed to reveal certain parts. Fig. 2 is a rear eleva-tion. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a cotton plant receiving channel. Fig. 4 is an end view of the element shown in Fi 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the opposlte channel wall through which the cotton picking fingers pass. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the di'erent figures.

The cotton picking machine of the preferred embodiment of my invention has two traction wheels a a mounted upon a U- shaped shaft b. A shaft b1 is driven by a traction wheel through the intermediation of suitable gearing b2 and has a bevel pinion b3 in gear with a bevel gear wheel b5 fixed upon the shaft b4. The miter-gear b5 drives the miter-pinion Zi` lined upon a 'shaft 57 that, in turn, carries a miter-pinion 68 in driving relation with a miter-gear b9 that is fixed upon a vertical shaft b1". The vertical shafts b* and bw constitute the main driving shafts for the duplicated picking mechanisms, each of which includes cotton picking fingers c, stripping wheels d for removing the cotton from the picking fingers, and cleaning wheels e that discharge the cotton that has been stripped into an elevator channel f. I do not deem it necessary to describe in detail each of the cotton picking mechanisms, for such mechanisms are well known to those skilled in the art. It should suilice to say that I employ picking mechanisms having cotton picking fingers c located in a plurality of horizontal planes and which are adapted to be projected through the slots g ot' a wall z, which wall constitutes a side of a channel through which the cotton plants pass. These cotton picking fingers are projected through these slots g into said plant channel and are withdrawn therefrom in a manner which is well known to those skilled in the art. It has not been known to those skilled in the art, however, that but one set of cotton picking fingers may be projected horizontally into the cotton plant-receiving channel, for it is the well established practice of the art to provide duplicated cotton plant picking mechanisms, the picking fingers of one being projected into a cotton plant-receiving channel from one side of the channel and the picking lingers of the other being projected into the cotton plant-receiving channel from the other side of the channel, each set of picking fingers doing but part of the picking. Instead of providing similar cotton picking mechanisms between which the cotton plant-receiving channel is disposed, I have but one cotton picking mechanism in association with each channel and located upon one side thereof, the mechanism upon erting a force which, in co-action with the resistance olered by the-cotton plantsfwill serve to maintain the cotton plants under a suitable degree of compression to enable the s3@ picking fingersl properly to perform their function. The swinging resisting element 'z' desirably has an imperforate outer wall m that supports a series of planks or ridges n, which aord between themv slots into which -8-"5 the-free ends of the associate picking fingers are received. The spring mechanism is desirably so adjusted that the reeends vof the picking lingers will always enter said recesses, so that .the passage'of the picking "90 lingers through the cotton plants is assured. The resisting element i constitutes, as has been suggested, a plant-receiving channel wall that is companion to the channel wall li, theY channel. wall i, by being swingingly mountedat its forward end,:1re'adily adapting itself to the plants that enter the channel and being'so constructed 'as not to thrust the plants away from the channel,y but, onthe other hand, being so constructed as to guide the plants into the channel by being cha-mtered as indicated at 0.

Inasmuch as the two picking mechanisms which I have illustrated are'duplicates of each other, I will not describe both mechanisms, as the description which I havefgiven will suiiice as a description of both mechanisms, similar characters of reference being applied to similar parts of each of these mechanisms.

Then two mechanisms are assembled in a single machine, the resisting elements c' are desirably adjacent to the traction wheels a, the two picking mechanisms being so arranged that they together pass between adjacent rows of plants, said adjacent rows ot plants being between the traction wheels, as will be apparent by an inspection of the drawing. IVhere a double machine is employed, the frame work thereof is desirably so constructed that it will support two shafts to accommodate three horses, one horse travcling between the two rows being picked and the other two horses upon the outside of said rows.

As I have embodied my invention, I have employed two traction wheels whose arrangement is such that the resisting elements c' lie directly between said traction Wheels and the opposed slotted walls h, but it is t0 135 nordsee be understood that I do not limit myself to the number of traction wheels employed, but regard the arrangement indicated as the best type of construction.

' lt should be noted that in order to carry out my invention the cotton picking fingers of each mechanism project substantially cntirely across the cotton plant-1eceiving channels, in order that they may fully perform their function, this being ay prominent dis* tinction between the apparatus of my invention and the apparatus of the prior art, where the cotton pic-king fingers of each set project but partially acrcss the cotton plantreceiving channels, thereby necessitating the employment of two sets of cotton picking lingers per channel.

Yi'hile I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment ot my invention, l do not Wish to be limited thereto, as charges may readily be made without departing from the spirit thcreot, but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:-

l. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plants that the channel. is adapted to receive, and cotton picking mechanism including lingers that are projectedsubstantially from one side ot said channel to the other, the wall of the channel opposite the bases of the lingers being recessed to receive the free ends of said lingers.

Q. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-1eceiving channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portionsl that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including fingers that are pro* jected substantially from one side of said channel to the other. and means whereby one of the channel walls may be moved toward and from the other channel wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel walls.

3. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant -receiving channel whose Walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including lingers that are projected substantially from one side ot' said channel to the other, the wall of the channel opposite the bases of the lin-gers heilig recessed to receive the free ends of said lingers. and means whereby the space intervening between the channel walls may be ad justed.

4. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant receiving channel whose walls liank a. roviy of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including lingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, and means whereby the space intervening between the channel Walls may be automatically adjusted.

5. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls liank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including lingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the Wall of the channel opposite the bases of the fingers being recessed to receive the free ends of said lingers, and means whereby the space intervening between the channel Walls may be auto matically adjusted.

6. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls liank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, and cotton picking mechanism including lingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism being svvingingly mounted.

7. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plantreceiving channel Whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, and cotton picking mechanism including lingers that, are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the wall of the channel opposite the bases of the fingers being recessed to receive the tree ends of said lingers, the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted.

25. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant receiving channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, and cotton picking mechanism including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other. the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted at its forward end.

9. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to rece-ive, and cotton picking mechanism including lingers that are projected substantially from one`side of said channel to the other, the wall of the channel opposite the bases of the lingers be ing recessed to receive the tree ends of said fingers, the channel wall farthest trom the picking mechanisul being svvingingly mounted at its forward end.

l0. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls liank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of ysaid channel to the other, the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted, and spring mechanism tao.

for pressing the channel Wall toward the picking mechanism.

11. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls iank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the wall of the channel opposite the bases of the fingers being recessed to receive the free ends ot said fingers, the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted, and spring mechanism for pressing the channel wall toward the picking mechanism.

12. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls iank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other', the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted at its forward end, and spring mechanism for pressing the channel wall toward the picking mechanism.

13. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls fia-nk a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including fingers that are pro` jected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the wall of the channel opposite the bases of the fingers being recessed to receive the free ends of said fingers, the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted at its forward end, and spring mechanism for pressing the channel wall toward the picking mechanism.

14. A cotton picking machine including two picking mechanisms mounted upon the same vehicle and adapted together to pass between adjacent rows of cotton plants, and including picking fingers projected by the picking mechanism toward the sides of the machine, the fingers of one picking mechanism projecting toward one side of the machine and the fingers of the other mechanism projecting toward the other side of the machine, and an upright channel wall along each side of and away from the body of the machine, toward which channel walls the picking fingers extend angularly to the vertical and to the line of travel of the machine to pick cotton from the plants entering between said walls and the body of the machine.

15. A cotton picking machine including picking fingers and picking finger operating apparatus, said picking fingers and apparatus being adapted for passage between adjacent rows of cotton plants, the picking finger operating apparatus being adapted to masses project picking fingers toward both sides of the machine into the plants between which said appara-tus is passing, and an upright channel wall along each side of and away from the body of the machine, toward which channel walls the picking fingers extend angularly to the vertical and to the line of travel of the machine to pick cotton from the plants entering betweenA said walls vand the body of the machine, whereby cotton may be picked from the adjacent rowsfof` fiank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, and means whereby one of' the channel walls may be moved toward and from the other channel wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotton plants between the channel walls.

18. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the wall of the channel opposite the bases of the fingers being recessed to receive the free ends of said fingers, and means whereby the space intervening between the channel walls may be adjusted.

19. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls fiank a row of cotton plant portions that thechannel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, and means whereby the space intervening between the channel walls may be automatically adjusted.

Q0. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the wall of the channel op- Lof/asas posito the bases of the fingers being recessed to receive the free ends of said fingers, and means whereby the space intervening between the channel Walls may be automatically adjusted.

21. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose Walls flank a row otl cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, and cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side ot said channel to the other, the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted.

A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls fiank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, and cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the wall of the channel opposite the bases ot' the fingers being recessed to receive the free ends of' said fingers, the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted.

225. .i cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, and cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the channel .vall farthest from the picking mechanism being` swingingly mounted at its forward end.

24. A cotton picking machine having a cotton piant-rtxciving channel whose walls fiank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel adapted to receive, and cotton picking n'iechanism operated by the machine. in tv -aveliug and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the wall et' the channel opposite the bases of the fingers being recessed to receive the free ends of said fingers, the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted at 'its forward end.

25. A cotton picking machine having a cot-ton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls fiank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in tra vcling and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism beingT sningingly mounted, and spring mechanism for pressing thc channel wall toward the picking mechanism.

26. .i cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the cha nucl is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in trav cling and including fingers that are pr0- jected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the wall of the channel opposite the bases of the fingers being recessed to receive the free ends of said fingers, the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted, and spring mechanism for pressing the channel wall toward the picking mechanism.

27. A cotton picking machine havingv a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by themachine in traveling and including fingers that are projected substantially7 from one side of said channel to the other, the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism being swingingly mounted at its forward end, and spring mechanism for pressing the channel vvall toward the picking mechanism.

28. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose Walls flank a roiv of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in trav cling and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, the Wall of the channel opposite the bases of the fingers being recessed to receive the free ends of said fingers, the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism being sivingingly mounted at its forward end, and spring mechanism for pressing the channel Wall toward the picking mechanism. A

2S). A cotton picking machine including two picking mechanisms operated by the machine in traveling and mounted upon the same vehicle and adapted together to pass between adjacent rows of cotton plants, and including picking fingers projected by the picking mechanisms toward the sides of the machine, the fingers of one picking mecha nism projecting toward one side of the ma-` chine and the fingers ot the other mecha nism projecting toward the other side of the machine, and an upright channel Wall along each side of and away from the body of the machine, toward which channel walls `the picking fingers extend angnlariy to the .vertical and to the line of travel of the machine to pick cotton from the plants entering between said Walls and the body of the Inachine.

30. A cotton picking machine including picking fingers and picking finger operating apparatus actuated by the machine in travcling, said picking fingers and apparatus being adapted for passage between adjacent rows of cotton plants, the picking finger operating apparatus being adapted to pro ject picking fingers toward both sides of the machine into the plants between which said apparatus is passing, and an upright channel wall along each side of and away from the body of the machine, toward `.vhich channel Walls the picking fingers extend angularly to the vertical and to the line oi travel of the machine to pick cotton from the plants entering between said Walls and the body of the machine, whereby cotton may be picked from the adjacent rows of cotton plants at the same time.

3l. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls Hank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in travcling. and means whereby the space intervening between the channel Walls may be automatically adjusted.

32. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls tiank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in travcling, and spring mechanism acting upon a channel Wall to adjust the space between the channel walls.

33. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel ivhose walls iank a row of cotton plant. portions that the channel is adapted to receive` cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling. and spring mechanism for pressing the channel Wall opposite the picking mechanism toward the picking' mechanism.

34. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose walls flank a row ot cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated b v the machine in t aveling. and automaticall,v7 operating mechanisin for pressing the channel wall opposite the picking mechanism toward the picking mechanism.

35. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant receiving channel Whose Walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including cotton picking fingers that are projected substantially across the channel, and automatically operating mechanism for pressing the channel vfall opposite the picking mechanism toward the picking mechanism.

36. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant receiving channel Whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated b v the machine in traveling and including cotton picking` fingers that are projected substantially across'the channel, and spring mechanism for pressing the channel Wall opposite the picking mechanism toward the picking mechanism.

3T. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose walls fiank a rovv of cotton plant ortions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism, and automatically operating mechanism for pressing the channel Wall opposite the picking mechanism toward the picking mechanism.

38. A. cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that-the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including cotton picking fingers that are projected substantially across the channel, and automatically operating mechanism for pressing the channel Wall opposite the picking mechanism toward the picking mechanism.

39. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls tiank a row of cotton plant'portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including cotton picking fingers that are projected substantially across the channel, and spring mechanism for pressing the channel Wall opposite the picking mechanism toward the picking mechanism.-

40. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose walls flank a row ot' cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism, and spring mechanism for pressing the channel Wall opposite the picking mechanism toward the picking mechamsm.

4l. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including fingers that are projected substantially from one side. ot said channel to the other, and means whereby the channel vvall farthest from the picking mechanism may be moved toward and from the other channel Wall during the operation ot the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel Walls.

42. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose Walls flank a rovv of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, and automatic means whereby the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism may be moved toward and from the other channel Wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel walls.

43. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls imanes flank a row oi cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism includingr fingers that are pro jected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, and spring' actuated means whereby the channel wall farthest trom the picking mechanism may bc moved toward and from the other channel wall during the operation ot the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel walls.

4t. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel adapted to receive. cotton picking mechanism, and automatic means whereby the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism may be moved toward and from the other channel wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel Walls.

45. A. cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls flank a ronY ot cotton plant portions that the channel adapted to receive, cotton pickingvmechanism, and spring' actuated means whereby the channel wall farthest from the picln'ng mechanism may be moved toward and from the other channel wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotto-n plant portions between the channel walls.

46. .l cotton pickingr machine having a cotton plantaeceiving' channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plantportions that the channel is adapted to receive. cotton pickingr mechanism operated by the machine in traveling' and including fingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other. and means whereby the channel wall farthest -trom the pickingr mechanism may be moved toward and from the other channel Wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel walls.

4T. A. cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose Walls liank a row ot cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive. cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and includingr lingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other. and automatic means wherebyv the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism ma)v be moved toward and from the other channel wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel walls.

48. A cotton picking machine having; a cotton plant-receivingY channel whose Walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive. cotton picking' mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including lingers that are projected substantially from one side of said channel to the other, and spring actuated means whereby the channel wall farthest trom the pickingmechanism may be moved toward and from the other channel wall during the (.peration of the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel Walls.

49. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel Whose walls iank a. row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picktraveling, and automatic means whereby the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism may be moved toward and from the other channel Wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel walls.

50. A cotton picking-machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls Hank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling, and springactuated means whereby the channel Wall farthest from the picking mechanism may be moved toward and from the other channel wall during the operation ot' the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel Walls.

51. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant-receiving channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plants that the channel is adapted to receive. and cotton picking mechanism including lingers that are pro jected entirely from one side oi said chan nel to the other.

A cotton 'iicking machine having a cotton plant-receivingv channel whose walls think a row of cotton plants that the channel is adapted to receive. and cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including' fingers that are project-- ed entirely from one side ot' said channel to the other.

53. A cotton picking machine including two picking mechanisms mounted upon the same vehicle and adapted together to pass between adjacenty rows ot cotton plants. and including picking lingers which are axially rotated and are inserted within and Withjccted by the picking mechanisms toward the sides of? the machine. the lingers ot one picking mechanism projecting toward one side of the machine and the fingers of the other mechanism projecting' toward the other side of the machine, and an upright channel wall along' each side of and away from the body of the machine. toward which channel walls the picking lingers eX- tend angularly to the vertical and to the i line of travel of the machine to pick cotton l from the plants entering between said Walls and the body of the machine.

ing mechanism operated by the machine indraivn from the cotton plants and are pro-V 54. A cotton picking machine including picking fingers which are axially rotated and are inserted within and withdrawn from the cotton plants, picking finger operating apparatus, said picking fingers and apparatus being adapted for passage between adjacent rows of cotton plants, the picking finger operating apparatus being adapted'to project picking fingers toward both sides of the machine into the plants between which said apparatus is passing, whereby cotton may be picked from the adjacent rows of' cotton plants at the same time, and an upright channel. wall along each side of and away from the body of the machine, toward which channel walls the picking fingers extend angularly to the vertical and to the line of travel of thc machine to pick cotton from the plants entering between said wallsand the body of the machine.

A cotton picking machine including two picking mechanisms operated by the ma'- chine in traveling and mounted upon the same vehicle and adapted together to pass between adjacent rows of cotton plants, and including picking fingers which are axially rotated and are inserted within and withdrawn from the cotton plants and are projected by the picking mechanisms toward the sides of the machine, the fingers of one picking mechanism projecting toward one side of the machine and the fingers of the other mechanism projecting toward the other side of the machine. and an upright channel wall along each side of and away from the machine and the fingers of the other mechanism projecting toward the other side of the machine, and an upright channel wall along each side of and away from the body of the machine,toward which channel walls the picking fingers extend angularly to the vertical and to the line of travel of the machine to pick cotton from the plants entering between said walls and the body of the machine.

56. A cotton picking machine including picking fingers which are axially rotated and are inserted within and withdrawn from the cotton plants, picking finger operating apparatus actuated by the machine in traveling, said picking fingers and apparatus being adapted for passage between adjacent rows of cotton plants, the picking finger operating apparatus heilig adapted to project picking fingers toward both sides of the machine into the plants between which said apparatus is passing. and an upright channel wall along each side of and away from the body of the machine, toward which channel walls the picking fingers extend angularly to the vert-ical and to the line of travel of the machine to pick cotton from the plants entering between said walls and the body of the machine, whereby cotton may be 'picked from the adjacent rows of cotton plants at the same time.

57. A cotton picking machine having a channel within which cotton plant portions may be received, and cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including picking fingers moving in substantially horizontal planes and adapted to extend substantially `emross said channel to pick cotton from the plant... portions interposed between the walls of saidchannel,

the wall of the channel opposite the bases of' the fingers being cut away to receive the free ends of the fingers.

58. A cotton picking machine having a channel within which cotton plant portions may be received, and cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including picking fingers moving in substantially horizontal planes and adapted -to extend substantially across said channel yto pick cotton from the plant portions interposed between the walls of said channel, the wall of the channel adjacent to the bases of the fingers being slotted to permit the fingers to pass therethrough, the wall of the channel opposite the bases of the fingers being cut away to receive the free ends of the fingers.

59. A cotton picking machine having a channel within which cotton plant portions may be received, and cotton picking mechanism including picking fingers moving in substantially horizontal planes and adapted to extend entirely across said channel to pick cotton from the plant portions interpcsed between the walls of said channel.

G0. A cotton picking machine having a channel within which cotton plant portions may be received, and cotton picking mechanism including picking fingers moving in substantially horizontal planes and adapted to extend entirely across said channel to pick cotton from the plant portions interposed between the walls of said channel, the wall of the channel adjacent to the bases of' the fingers being slotted to permit the fingers to pass therethrough.

61. A cotton picking machine having a channel wit-hin which cotton plant portions may be received, and cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including picking fingers moving in substantially horizontal planes and adapted to extend entirely across said channel to pick cotton from the plant portions interposed between the walls of said channel.

GQ. A cotton picking machine having a channel within which cotton plant portions may be received, and cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling and including picking fingers moving in substantially horizontal planes and adapted to extend entirely across said channel to increase pick cotton from thc plant portions interposed between the walls of salcl channel, the 'wall of the channel adjacent to the bases of the lingers being slotted to permit the tingers to pass therethrough.

63. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant receiving channel whose Walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling, and means whereby the channel wall farthest from the picking mechanism may be moved toward and from the other channel wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel Walls.

(Si. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant receiving channel whose walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling, and means whereby the space intervening between the channel Walls may be adjusted.

65. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant receiving channel whosewalls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated b the machine in traveling and means W ereby one of the channel walls may be moved toward. and from the other channel wall during the operation of the machine to press the cotton plant portions between the channel walls.

66. A cotton picking machine having a cotton plant receiving channel Whose Walls flank a row of cotton plant portions that the channel is adapted to receive, cotton picking mechanism operated by the machine in traveling, including cotton picking iin` gers that are projected substantially across the channel, and means whereby the channel wall opposite the picking mechanism is mov able toward the picking mechanism.

ln witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th da of Jul A. D., 1908. J0 N F. PPLEBY. Witnesses:

L. G. STnoH, G. L. CRAGG.

@epics ot this patent may be obtaine for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, JD?. C. 

